Gambia, Senegal Seal Ambitious Education Pact to Expand Scholarships and Innovation

DAKAR, Senegal — The governments of The Gambia and Senegal have taken a major step toward deepening regional integration in higher education with the conclusion of a landmark bilateral agreement, on December 9, 2025, aimed at expanding scholarships, strengthening institutional partnerships, and boosting innovation across both countries.

A high-level Gambian delegation led by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, concluded a four-day official visit to Senegal this week, culminating in the adoption of a comprehensive 2025–2030 Action Plan with Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI). The agreement is designed to translate the long-standing fraternal ties between the two neighboring nations into concrete, results-driven cooperation.

Under the new framework, Senegal has committed to funding 50 scholarships annually for Gambian students at undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) levels. Priority fields include science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), agriculture, and health—sectors both governments view as critical to national development and youth employment.

The agreement also establishes structured mobility programs that will allow students, lecturers, and researchers to move between institutions in both countries. Officials said the exchanges are intended to strengthen academic collaboration, knowledge transfer, and joint research initiatives across the sub-region.

Innovation and entrepreneurship feature prominently in the new partnership. The two ministries agreed to launch an annual Senegal–Gambia Innovation Challenge aimed at encouraging young innovators to develop practical solutions to shared development challenges, with support from academic institutions and industry partners.

In the area of technical and vocational education, The Gambia’s Centres of Excellence will partner directly with Senegal’s Instituts Supérieurs d’Enseignement Professionnel (ISEP). The collaboration will focus on curriculum development, staff training, and equipment planning, drawing on Senegal’s experience in industry-aligned training models.

Quality assurance will also see closer cooperation, with The Gambia’s National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) set to deepen its operational collaboration with Senegal’s ANAQ-SUP. The partnership will involve the exchange of best practices in accreditation, institutional evaluation, and regulatory standards.

To ensure effective implementation, a Joint Technical Committee is to be established within three months, with a mid-term review of the Action Plan scheduled for 2028. Professor Gomez also extended an invitation to his Senegalese counterpart, Professor Daouda Ngom, for a reciprocal visit to The Gambia in March 2026, an invitation that was formally accepted.

During the visit, the Gambian delegation toured several institutions, including ISEP Diamniadio, where officials observed a training model built on 70 percent practical instruction and 30 percent theory. The approach, closely aligned with labor market needs, was cited as a potential model for strengthening TVET delivery in The Gambia.

Education officials from both countries described the agreement as a milestone in Senegambian cooperation and bilateral relations, signaling a shared commitment to investing in knowledge, skills development, and innovation as drivers of sustainable growth in West Africa.